It is increasingly common nowadays for children aged two and a half to three years to be enrolled in pre-school classes. It is crucial for all stakeholders involved in the direct and indirect upbringing of the child (including parents and society) to understand one important thing: are we imposing academic activities (such as studying) on a three-year-old child in the name of school preparation?

The purpose of enrolling children in these classes is related to their nourishment, health, and understanding of the environment, which will naturally develop through play and fun. However, some parents, without understanding the true purpose, insist on giving children delicate tools like pencils and pens, pressuring them to write. Is it appropriate to insist on school preparation like this without considering the proper age for physical (fine motor skills) and mental development?

If establishing a system within the family is not possible, or if school preparation is voluntarily undertaken, it should be done with consideration for the child’s natural movements and nourishment. What kind of effort is this to prepare a three- to four-year-old child for the cutthroat competition in future education? In reality, this is a time for children to develop and be nurtured in a playful and joyful manner with their family members, including parents, grandparents, uncles, aunts, and siblings.

With the industrial revolution, increasing urbanization, and rapidly growing populations, the joint family system (extended family) has become increasingly rare. Unlike in the past, when joint families included grandparents, uncles, and aunts, the absence of such extended families now means there are fewer older family members available to watch over young children or play with them. In nuclear families, where both parents may not always have enough time to spend with their children, parents often turn to alternatives such as daycare or pre-school preparation programs.

If, due to various challenges, some parents are unable to devote time to their children from an early age, when those children grow up and their parents grow old, the children might also be unable to spend time with their elderly parents. As a result, they may seek a senior care facility for them. Just as a daycare serves as a facility for young children, remember that a senior care facility can serve a similar purpose for your elderly parents. Due to the intense pressure of education, children may feel that their childhood, which should have been carefree and joyful, has instead been filled with stress.

We, too, were enrolled in school only after we turned five or six. Until then, we spent our time at home with our grandmother, playing in the dirt, mud, and sand with all our siblings.

Shailesh Shirsath,India.

My Video of December 2022